Bringing Science To Life: Stages 4-5
Integrating ICT into the NSW K-10 Science Syllabus.
Great for
STEM learning!
Students come to secondary science classes with a range of experiences and high expectations about practical laboratory experiences. They often bring their own devices but have not yet experienced the range of possibilities available to them to foster their scientific curiosity.
In this introductory workshop, teachers will participate in hands on activities to:
- gain confidence with and ability to integrate ICT meaningfully into learning and teaching to support the aims and objectives of the new Stages 4-5 Science syllabus
- use a variety of apps and software to engage students, explore science concepts, and create products that demonstrate evidence of learning. Some examples include the use of QR codes; memes; puzzling simulations of Rube Goldberg machines; augmented reality; and reporting with interactive infographics, comic strips and digital interactive books.
- engage with ‘real science’ (such as investigating weather, seismology, cosmology and rocketry) and confidently work with a range of information and communications technologies.
This course consists of two parts. A workshop day (5.5hrs) and a follow-on component to be completed in your own time after the workshop (4.5hrs). You must successfully complete both parts in order to gain the 10 professional learning hours.
Follow-on
The follow-on component for this course (4.5 hrs) is described below. This is an opportunity for you to have some time to take what you learned during the workshop and apply it to your own context and your own students. Information about due dates and instructions will be emailed to participants after the workshop day.
Choose an area of content (from Syllabus outcomes) for one of your classes and develop a sequence of lessons incorporating appropriate ICT. Then design an assessment task (preferably formative) for your students to demonstrate their knowledge (content) and skill (ICT) acquisition as part of these lessons. Participants share their lesson to an online community where they will get to interact with the other teachers in the course. Participants complete a personal reflection piece and a course survey.
Read more about follow-on components, and see the criteria for successful completion in the FAQ below.
Audience: Stage 4 and 5 teachers.
Keywords: Secondary, STEM, STEAM, Coding, Creative & Critical Thinking, Design, Digital Literacy, New Syllabus Implementation
Feedback
The course was very enjoyable, hands-on and a number of the ICT activities are easily implemented in the classroom – increasing appeal to students, such as through the use of QR codes.
The course enables me to engage students and enhance their creativity. If students are engaged their learning will improve. Their ICT/21 century learning skills are also developed.
I have already seen an increase when using technology in the Science classroom and expect this to continue as I incorporate more technology into the course.
Facilitator
Wayne Chaffey
Developer and Facilitator
A science educator for almost four decades, Wayne commenced teaching at James Ruse Agricultural High and retired from Moree Secondary College. He has taught Science in a range of schools and provided professional learning for teachers from K-12, mostly in regional NSW. He recognises the importance of ICT in effectively engaging today’s students and providing them with essential 21st Century skills.
Enrol
Unfortunately there are no plans to run this course again. Apologies for any inconvenience.
FAQ
How do I enrol?
How is payment taken?
How do I get there and do I need to bring anything?
What if I cancel or don't show up?
You can delete your own enrolment through MyPL, however keep in mind any cancellations made within 2 days of the event or no-shows will incur the full cost, charged to your school. Please contact us if there are any issues with your attendance.
What's a follow-on component?
Some of our courses include a follow-on component to be completed by the participant in their school context with the aim of transferring the new practice to their teaching and learning repertoire. These deliverables are included as part of the course hours and are designed to engage teachers in real ‘learning through doing’ leading to improvement in the skills and capabilities of teachers. This is an opportunity for you to have some time to take what you learned during the workshop and apply it to your own context and your own students. Details of the follow-on will be emailed out to all participants. The deliverables must meet the following Criteria:
- Product (this may refer to lesson plan, unit of work or other digital product)
- evidence of creativity;
- planning and/or design;
- incorporation of key ideas in the course;
- integration of technology; and
- a published/shared product that is appropriate to audience, purpose and context.
- Online Interaction
- peer feedback; and
- community building.
- Personal Written Reflection (200 words):
- Reflect on the learning experience gained by participating in this course, including the deliverables, OR reflect on your classroom practice (including a description of the pedagogical approach, delivery and implications for the future); AND
- Reflect on how you achieved one or more of the specified professional learning standards.
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